Baritone vs Multiscale vs 7-String: Which Guitar for Low Tunings?
When a standard 6-string runs out of tension, there are three common answers: a baritone, a multiscale (fanned-fret) guitar or a 7-string. All three let you tune low with a tight low end, but they feel very different to play.
Baritone guitars
A baritone is a 6-string with a longer scale, usually 27" or more. It is designed to be tuned lower, typically B standard (B E A D F# B) or Drop A.
Strengths
- The same six strings and the same chord shapes you already know, a fourth lower.
- High tension on every string, so the low end stays clear.
Trade-offs
- The frets are wider apart, which makes big stretches harder near the nut.
- It is a dedicated instrument. Tuning it back up to E standard is not practical.
In 2026 baritones keep moving into the mainstream of metal catalogues. ESP's Black Metal series was overhauled in September 2026 with baritone models, and PRS showed a limited Ed Sheeran SE baritone with a 27.7" scale at NAMM.
Multiscale (fanned-fret) guitars
On a multiscale guitar the frets are angled, so each string has its own scale length. The low string gets a long scale for tension and the high string a shorter one for easy bends. A typical spread is 25.5" on the high string to 27" on the low string of a 7-string.
Strengths
- The tension is balanced across the strings: tight lows and comfortable highs.
- The angled frets follow the natural angle of the fretting hand, which many players find comfortable.
Trade-offs
- It takes a few hours to get used to, especially for chords near the nut.
- There are fewer models and they usually cost more than straight-fret guitars.
7-string guitars
A 7-string adds a low B string to a standard neck. Most use a 25.5" to 26.5" scale. In standard tuning you keep every shape you know; in Drop A you get the one-finger power chord on the three lowest strings.
Strengths
- Range: the full standard guitar plus the low string.
- The most choice of models and prices of the three.
Trade-offs
- A wider neck and one more string to mute.
- On a 25.5" scale, Drop A or lower can still feel loose without heavy strings.
Which one to choose
- You play in one low tuning and want the familiar 6-string feel: a baritone.
- You want the tightest low end across 7 or 8 strings and comfortable bends: a multiscale.
- You want range and the widest choice of guitars: a 7-string.
Whichever you choose, check the notes on the fretboard before you commit. The tool has a baritone group: open B standard on a baritone, Drop A on a baritone or Drop A on a 7-string and compare the shapes.